The 15th annual Montauk Music Festival is coming up, starting Thursday, May 14, and continuing through Sunday, May 17.
The festival sees over 400 performances from 100 acts playing at around 40 of The End’s most beloved venues. As is tradition, the opening party is May 14 at the Westlake Fish House. Sure to be an evening of good food and good times, 21 of the festival’s musicians will each offer up a brief, sneak preview set of what the weekend will bring, the evening’s performances occurring across the two stages at the 352 Westlake Drive locale. Opening party starts runs from 6:15 to 11 p.m. and tickets are $65 per person (plus fees).
Artists set to perform over the three-day long festival come from all over the world, from across Long Island, to New York City, to the Hudson Valley, to Canada, to all the way across the Atlantic, in England.
While full music sets kick off on Friday, May 15, the day also will include free industry workshops at Shagwong Tavern (774 Montauk Highway, 631-668-3050) running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring a panel discussion on how artists today are building real, long-term careers without relying on the traditional music industry playbook, according to the festival’s website.
“We’ll talk about what it actually takes to stay independent — from owning your music and growing fanbase to playing shows, touring, promoting releases and making money,” the site says. Panelist will include artist managers, distribution experts, marketing reps, publicists, booking agents and an actual artist that is making a living doing it themselves.
“By the end, the audience will have a better understanding of what being ‘independent’ really means (and doesn’t mean) today,” the site says, noting which tools and platforms are worth focusing on, how to balance creative freedom with paying the bills, how to best market your music and your brand, and how to decide whether a label deal, partnership, or hybrid setup makes sense for their own goals.
“A mind-numbing amount of new music is released daily—navigating alone is overwhelming. An empathic, experienced cheerleader who coaches, advises, and shortens the learning curve can make a profound difference,” says digital marketer, writer and slated panel member Ariel Hyatt. “There’s a science to effectively growing your music career, but there’s no definitive roadmap—the journey is unique to each artist.”
Main Stage action is on Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17, from 11 a.m. to 5 and 6 p.m., respectively. Located on the village green in the center of town, folks are encouraged to bring a beach chair, a blanket and set up a sitting spot. And although no outside coolers or booze is allowed, there’ll be beer, wine and soda available during the entirety of the event. Admission is $20 for a two-day pass and kids under 5 are free. Cash or Venmo are the only means of payment, but, keep in mind, a percentage of the proceeds will benefit Lucia’s Angles and the East End Coalition for Women’s Cancers, so it’s all for a good cause.
Other venues include Bird on the Roof, Bounce Beach, Duryea’s, Gin Beach Cafe, Gurney’s, Montauket, Lalo, Montauk Yacht Club, Naturally Good, Montauk Lobster House, Muse, Gosman’s, Salivar’s, Shagwong, South Edison, Sole East, Gig Shack, Marlena’s Pack Out, Montauk Brewing Co.,Montauk Beach House and the Memory Motel. For a full schedule click here.
Saturday’s main event is at the Fish House featuring Long Island staple hard rock trio Zebra, celebrating 50 years. Only 200 tickets are going to be sold for this event, so get after it!
